Translated with AI
The Second International Mining and Metallurgy Forum of Tajikistan has opened in Dushanbe. More than 250 companies and specialists from Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the United States, Europe, and the Persian Gulf countries are participating in the event, according to the press service of the CIS Executive Committee.
During the forum, Tajikistan's Minister of Industry and New Technologies, Sherali Kabir, stated that the country's annual industrial growth in recent years has averaged 20%. The focus was on metal mining and processing.
"In recent years, Tajikistan's industrial growth has averaged 20%, with a primary focus on metal mining and processing. The country has 800 explored metal and mineral deposits, including 200 proven ones," the minister said.
Sherali Kabir noted that over 100 deposits are under development, producing over 50 types of mineral raw materials, including gold, silver, lead, antimony, tungsten, mercury, fluorite, rare and trace elements, precious and semi-precious stones, rock salt, as well as potentially anomalous mineral deposits of 22 chemical elements. However, only about 6% of the country's territory has been explored.
The minister emphasized that Tajikistan possesses ten types of strategic metals and minerals—copper, aluminum, lithium, zinc, antimony, fluorite, graphite, nickel, tungsten, and rare earth metals—which are included in the list of critical resources of China, the EU, and the US.
"The rapid development of digital technologies and e-commerce requires the extraction of large volumes of strategic metals and other elements, and Tajikistan's rich resources can facilitate this," noted Sherali Kabir.
He added that a processing plant and a lithium carbonate production plant are being built in the republic. Other important metals include germanium, of which the country has ample reserves. Confirmed lead reserves are estimated at 1.8 million tons, and zinc at 4.7 million tons. Silver reserves exceed 100,000 tons, placing Tajikistan among the top five countries in the world in this indicator. Furthermore, the republic ranks among the first post-Soviet countries in terms of reserves of antimony and mercury-containing ores.
The Minister of Industry and Trade emphasized that "Tajikistan, with its mineral resources, should now be recognized by the international community as an important strategic region. With the attraction of financial resources and modern technologies, it will be able to supply the global market with critical metals and minerals, taking into account today's demands."
The Second International Mining and Metallurgy Forum of Tajikistan is being held with the support of the government and aims to attract foreign investors, specialists, and partners to the extraction and processing of the country's mineral resources. The event also aims to promote Tajikistan's capabilities in the mining industry, expand international cooperation, and strengthen the investment potential of the industrial sector.
